Ecotoxicity of cyanide complexes in industrially contaminated soils

► Cyanide complexes are toxic to freshwater species such as free cyanides. ► Cyanide complexes are not lethal to earthworms, but are very toxic to aquatic invertebrates. ► Toxicity of leachates from coke plant soils is due to dissolved cyanide complexes. ► Both, free and complexed cyanides have to be monitored for soil risk assessment.